Down the drain cleaning system

Abstract

A fabric cleaning system, especially a system for use in the consumer's home, utilizing down the drain detergent composition for a non-aqueous, lipophilic fluid based washing process and automatic laundry machines useful for this process.

1. A method for cleaning fabric articles, said method comprising the sequential steps of:
 contacting fabric articles in need of cleaning in an automatic washing machine with a cleaning composition wash medium comprising a lipophilic fluid and contaminants selected from laundry additives, soils, and mixtures thereof; 
 separating the cleaning composition wash medium from the fabric articles; 
 adding water to the cleaning composition wash medium to form a water phase, 
 wherein one or more laundry additives and soils are extracted from the lipophilic fluid into the water phase; 
 disposing of this water phase comprising water, laundry additives and soils down the drain. 
 
     
     
       2. The method for cleaning fabric articles according to  claim 1  wherein the lipophilic fluid comprises decamethylcyclopentasiloxane and the laundry additives comprise one or more additives selected from the group consisting of surfactants, alkyl amines, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       3. The method for cleaning fabric articles according to  claim 1  wherein a hydrotrope is added to the water. 
     
     
       4. The method for cleaning fabric articles according to  claim 3  wherein the hydrotrope is a short chain ethoxylated nonionic surfactant. 
     
     
       5. The method for cleaning fabric articles according to  claim 1  further comprising the steps of removing one or more of the laundry additives from the lipophilic fluid by filtration and subsequently flushing filter used for this filtration with water thereby forming an aqueous mixture comprising water and the laundry additives removed from the lipophilic fluid, followed by disposing of this aqueous mixture down the drain. 
     
     
       6. The method for cleaning fabric articles according to  claim 1  wherein only part of the laundry additives are disposed of down the drain and another part of the laundry additives is removed by a disposable filter. 
     
     
       7. The method for cleaning fabric articles according to  claim 1  wherein the laundry additives are selected from the group consisting of builders, surfactants, enzymes, bleach activators, bleach catalysts, bleach boosters, bleaches, alkalinity sources, antibacterial agents, colorants, perfumes, pro-perfumes, finishing aids, lime soap dispersants, odor control agents, odor neutralizers, polymeric dye transfer inhibiting agents, crystal growth inhibitors, photobleaches, heavy metal ion sequestrants, anti-tarnishing agents, anti-microbial agents, anti-oxidants, anti-redeposition agents, soil release polymers, electrolytes, pH modifiers, thickeners, abrasives, divalent or trivalent ions, metal ion salts, enzyme stabilizers, corrosion inhibitors, diamines or polyamines and/or their alkoxylates, suds stabilizing polymers, solvents, process aids, fabric sofiening agents, optical brighteners, hydrotropes, suds or foam suppressors, suds or foam boosters and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       8. The method for cleaning fabric articles according to  claim 1  wherein the soils are selected from the group consisting of beverages, food soils, water soluble dyes, bodily fluids, outdoor soils, and mixtures thereof.